Crain optimistic injury fading away

PEORIA, Ariz. — Jesse Crain believes he might resume pitching in a game if his right oblique muscle can withstand a "big" bullpen session Friday.

Crain, who hasn't thrown in a game since March 12, reported he felt better Wednesday after making 20 throws in front of the mound and then throwing an additional 12 off the mound.

"It was a big step forward, especially coming from where it felt the last couple of days," said Crain, who had felt tightness until recently. "It's something that day-by-day will get better."

Crain's health is vital to the Sox, who will have rookies Addison Reed and Hector Santiago in the bullpen as well as two openings to be determined.

Dunn's return to left:Dayan Viciedo was scratched from Wednesday's lineup against the Mariners because of a pulled tooth. That caused the Sox to move designated hitter Adam Dunn to left field.

Dunn, who made two starts in right field last year, caught Chone Figgins' routine fly in the first.

"It was good to have that one out of the way," said Dunn, who said he originally was scheduled to start in left Thursday. "It's tougher down here. It's not real-life baseball, no stands up there and ball goes immediately into the sky. I didn't know how it would feel even taking fly balls out there. It felt fine."

Said manager Robin Ventura: "I don't want him DHing the whole time. I want him running around, and he has a lot more fun down here, too."

Extra innings: Left-hander John Danks threw six innings and 96 pitches against a group of Mariners minor leaguers and worked on mastering his changeup. … Pitcher Terry Doyle was returned to the Sox and will report to Triple-A Charlotte. The Twins selected Doyle last December for $50,000, but the Sox reclaimed him for $25,000. Doyle is 26-23 with a 2.94 ERA in 75 minor league games.